In Southern California, most property owners are happy that they do not have to deal with some of the typical asphalt problems that other parts of the country need to deal with, such as snow and ice. Freezing can cause a host of issues with both asphalt and concrete. However, you will find that there is an entirely different problem in Orange County. Here, we have a lot of sun throughout most of the year, and this means that the asphalt will have to deal with damaging UV rays.
Just as these rays can damage your skin, they can also cause problems for asphalt parking lots. When the asphalt gets too hot under these rays, it can cause some severe issues with the chemical bonds in the asphalt. Namely, they start to unravel. The bonds will weaken as the sun heats them in the daytime, and they cool down overnight.
Signs of Problems
The heat from the sun will not cause massive amounts of damage all at once. Like most problems, it will take time and start to build. You probably won’t notice any issues at first. However, you will want to keep an eye out for signs that could indicate problems with the asphalt whether they come from the sun or something else entirely. For example, you will want to look for signs of brittleness, such as chunks of asphalt that break. Look for any signs of warping on the pavement, as well. This includes swelling and divots.
Make sure to take a look at your parking lot or other asphalt paving Orange County surfaces regularly, just to see what types of problems might be rearing their heads.
What Can You Do?
You might be thinking that even though you might like to do something about the Orange County sun at some point, you can’t stop the sun from shining. While you can’t keep the sun entirely off of the parking lot, there is something that you can do about it. You will want to make sure that you have a professional come out to seal coat the parking lot. The seal coating will add a protective layer to the parking lot striping Orange County that can keep it looking great for longer and protect it from the sun.
Be Proactive
Even if you have seal coating Orange County, you will eventually have issues with your asphalt that will need to be repaired. In some cases, it might also need replacement. Therefore, you will want to make sure that you are taking care of those issues as soon as you notice them. If you neglect your asphalt, it will only get worse. Look for problems and get them repaired by a professional for the best results.
This will reduce the expense of maintenance since you will not have to make massive repairs down the line, of course. You might not be able to do anything about the sun, but you can still keep your driveway in good shape.
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